Signal apparatus



E. c. AL EN S IGNAL APPARATUS Filed May 19. 1923 LL a FIG. 2

dgaz C 5/1672 O @104 M rwoaw UNITED STATES i g 1,510,912 PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR-G. ALLEN, 01!? ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROGERL.

KNUTSSON, OF ROCKFOED,-IIIIJNOIS.

SIGNAL APPARATUS. 1

Application filed m 19,

To all whom it may cmlcem:

Be it known that LEooaa O. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois,have invented a certain new andusefulSignal Apparatus, of which thefollpwin is a specification.

This Inven ion relates to signal apparatus for automobiles and motortrucks. The signal lamp or other electrical device of such an apparatushas heretofore been controlled by means of a knife switch or other formof .on the chassis and arran through a link or the like connecte to themechanical switch supported at some point ged to be 0 erated brakepedal. 'Sto lights have heretofore proved very unre iable, as the switchand its operating connection were liable to be rendered inoperative bymud, by a stone bounding up from the highway or by other accidentalcauses.

The object of the present invention is to provide, in apparatus of thischaracter, a form of switch which shall not be susceptible to injury bydirt, which shall be effectively protected against mechanical injury,and the operation of which shall be directly dependent upon actuation ofthe brake pedal, thus dispensing with intermediate operatingconnections.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in the nature of' adiagram illustrating a stop light apparatus embodying the features of myinvention. Fi 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane ofIine 22 ofFig. 1. Fi 3 illustrates the operation of the switch. ig. 4 is afragmental view illustrating an a ternative arran ement,

In the drawings, 1 denotes a rake pedal of the ordinary or any suitableconstruction, arran d to-be swung forwardly (i. e. in the direction inwhich the car normally travels to decelerate the car, by pressure applieto the upper end l" of thepedal; 2 indicates a signal lam'picasin of anypreferred form located at any esired point upon the car, and 3represents a battery of any ordinary or preferred character. The

switch 4 for closing a circuit through a lamp in the casing 2 is shownin Fig. 3, and consists of a closed glass tube 5 within one end of whichare the two contacts '6. The tube 5 contains a suitable quantity ofmercury 7. In order to protect the switch 4 against injury, it isenclosed within a casing 8, which 1923. Serial No. 640,008.

up or end 1 thereof by means of a clamp 9 Fig. 2) comprising a set screw10 and a lock nut 11, said screw bein adapted to secure the clamprigidly to the" rake pedal. The switch is secured to the clamp by meansof a screw 12 or the like extending throu h the casing 8 for the switch.When the bra e edal is in the normal position, as shown in fig. 1, theglobule of mercury is in the rear end of the'tube and oppositeto thatcontaining the contacts 6, as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 3. Whenthe dal is depressed, the mercury flows to the orward end of the casingthus closing a circuit through the signs. lamp, as shown in the lowerportion of Fig. 3. The flow of the mercury to the forward end of thecasing is caused partly by the depression of the brake pedal, asindicated in Fig. 3, and partly y the momentum. of the mercury as thecar slows down, the momentum of the mercur serving to prevent reboundingof the glo ule.

In certain makes of motor cars there is rigidly attached to the brakedal 1 i1. rear- 35 wardly extending arm 13 which is virtually a part ofthe brake pedal and to which the brake operating link 14 is pivoted bymeans of a screw or stud passing through one of a plurality of holes 15in said arm. Instead of mounting the switch directly upon the brakepedal 1, it may be conveniently attached to the arm 13 of said brakepedal by means of a bolt 16 or the like extendin through the casing 8and'through 1110 o iihe openings 15 in the arm 13, as shown in Theconstruction herein shown is free from the objections and disadvantagesinherent in previous constructions, inasmuch as the switch is thoroughlyrotected from the elements and from mec anical injury. Being attacheddirectly to the brake pedal or the arm 13 rigid with saidpedaLitsoperation' is positive and reliable.

It will be understood that, while I have shown only two contacts in thetube 5, the number and arran nt ofthe contacts 'will depend .upon thespecific character of the signal device. 110

I claim as my invention:

1. In a motor car, the combination of .a brake pedal pivoted to swingforward to decelerate the car, a signal device, a source of electricalenergy, and a mercury switch for making and breaking a circuit throughsaid signal device and said source of energy, said switch comprisin acasing rigidly secured to said pedal low the up r end thereof, contactpoints within the orward end of said casing, and a globule of mercurywithin the casing to bridge said contact points when said globule movesto the forward end of the casing through the combined action of momentumand the forward swing of the brake pedal.

2. n a motor car, the combination of a brake pedal pivoted to swingforward to decelerate the car, a signal device, a source of electricalencr and a mercur switch for making and signal device and said source ofener said switch comprising a casing moun upon reaking a circuit thrusaid said withm'the forward end of said casing, and a globule of mercurywithin the casing to br dge said contact points when said globule movesto the forward end of the casingthru 1 to swing therewith, contactnoints the combined action of momentum and the switch com rising a casinsecured to said brake mom r, contact points within said casing, and aglobule of mercury within the casing to bri go said contact points whensaid globule moves in the casing thru the combined action bf momentumand the forward swing of the brake member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

EDGAR C. ALLEN.

switch for

